Concentrator



1N0 flodelj 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. k P. H. MGGOWAN.

GONGENTRATOR Patented Aug. 25, 1896.

e INVENTOI? WITNESSES:

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{No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

P. H.1VI0GOWAN.

GONGENTRATOR. No. 566,607. Patented Aug. 25, 1896.

A TTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OEEioE.

PATRICK H. MCGO /VAN, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

CONCENTRATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 566,607, dated August25, 1896.

Application filed July 8, 1895. derial No. 555,276. (No model.)

gold, ores from stamp-mills, auriferous gravel or sand placer dirt, tosave all the precious metal contained in the material.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is an end elevation of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a sectionalside elevation of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. Fig. 3 is an invertedplan view of the same. Fig. 4 is a broken sectional plan view of thesame on the line el 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the same onthe line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of theagitator-teeth in an upside-down position, and Fig. 7 is an enlargedsectional side elevation of part of the pan.

The improved concentrator is provided with a suitably constructed frameA, supporting a tank 13, inwhich is arranged a pan O, providcd with aseries of steps O C O 0" made circular, as is plainly illustrated inFigs. 2, 5, and 7. Each of the steps 0 C O O is covered by amalgamatingplates, as indicated in Fig. 7, and the said steps are inclined fromtheir inner to their outer peripheries in a downward direction, with theinner edge of each formed with a standing flange or dam O, for retainingthe material on the step as long as possible to separate the tailingsfrom the precious metals.

The lowermost annular step 0 is supported on a cross or spider C, heldbetween two nuts I) and D screwing on a shaft D, mounted to turn looselyon a stud E, projecting into the bored lower end of the said. shaft D.The

tank 13.

aperture into a hopper F, provided with an outlet F, passing through thebottom of the tank B to connect at its lower end with a flexibledischargepipe G for carrying off the material from time to time, ashereinafter more fully described.

Each of the steps O O C C is provided with a number of receptacles 0containing quicksilver, the said receptacles being removably connectedwith the steps. Over each of the steps O O O C operate agitators orstirring-teeth II, secured at their upper ends to a step-like disk H,provided with a spider H held between two nuts I and I screwing on ashaft I, made hollow at its lower end to receive the upper end of theshaft D, which thus supports the said shaft I, the latter being mountedto turn at its upper end in suitable bearings formed in a bracket A ofthe frame A.

Each of the agitators or stirring-teeth H is made in the form shown inFig. 6that is, is made of angle-ir0n with a shank H having the sides ofits lower end 11* bent in opposite directions, as will be readilyunderstood by reference to Fig. 6. A tooth made in this form moreeffectually stirs the material in the corresponding pan-steps O O C 0and passes easily through the material, and, with the upper portion ofatooth bent and placed as it is, has a tendency to force the topmaterial toward the center of the pan, while the lower portion of thetooth has a tendency to withdraw toward the circumference such materialsas have settled nearly to the bottom of the step, thus making itimpossible for the concentrates intended to be saved to get away. Adistributing-cone J is secured to the top of the disk II carrying theagitators II, and upon this distributor J opens the lower end of ahopper K, supported in a frame A held adjustable on the frame A, topermit of raising and lowering the hopper K relative to the distributerJ, to permit more or less material to pass from the hopper K upon thedistributer J. The hopper K is provided with a sleeve K", held looselyon the shaft I, and resting with its lower end on the apex of thedistributer J.

In order to impart a forward and backward rotary motion to the shaft I,I provide the upper end thereof with an arm I, adapted to be taken holdof by the operator to move the arm forward and backward, so as to causethe shaft I, distributer J, and disk 11, carrying the agitators H tomove forward and backward over the steps. The movement of the agitatorsH through the material on the steps causes the pan 0 to turn, this movement, however, being limited by stop-pins L, projecting from the .sideof the upper step 0" between the stops L, attached to the tank B, asillustrated in Fig. 5. The circular motion of the pan 0, being thussuddenly arrested, gives a shockto its contents which effectivelyadvances the heavier materials toward the circumference. An annularflange N extends upwardly from the uppermost step G above the base ofthe distributer J, so that the material passing down the distributer Jis guided by the said flange LT upon the uppermost step 0 The materialagitated by the agitators H causes the precious metals to settle in thelowermost part of the step C, while the lighter material passes over theflange C to the next step 0 to be there agitated by the agitators H, andso on, the material bein treated on the several steps so that finallybut verylight particles or tailings pass over the lowermost flange Ginto the chute F and to the discharge-pipe G. \Vhen a full supply ofwater or no water at all is used, this discharge-pipe G is heldconstantly open; but when the Work is done with a small quantity ofwater, then it is held closed and is only opened from time to time. Forthis purpose I provide a fixed clamp G, operating in connection with amovable clamp G to press the flexible discharge-pipe G to hold thelatter closed. The clamp G is pivotally connected at G to the fixedclamp G and is pressed on by a spring G. The free end of the clamp G ispivotally connected by a link G with a lever G6, fulcrumed on the frameA and extending upwardly to be engaged by the arm I whenever the latteris moved to the end of its stroke, so that at this time thedischarge-pipe G is opened to discharge the tailings.

The operation is as follows: The material, such as screen placer dirt orstamp-mill pulp and the like, is placed in the hopper K, and then thearm 13 is moved back and forth to impart a rotary motion forward andbackward to the shaft 1, the said distributer J, and the agitator ll,carrying the agitators H. In moving the distributer J the material inthe lower part of the hopper K passes from the latter upon thedistributer and down the same to the gu'ideflange N, to be finallydelivered into the uppermost step 0* of the concentrating-pan C. If thestroke given to the arm I is long, the feed of the material is greaterand the work done in the concentrator is in proportion to the length ofthe stroke. The material passes down and over the several steps 0* C ofthe pan 0 with its valuable precious metals, which are retained on theplates or in the receptacles 0 In case water is used, the tailings arecarried off by the stream of water passing out at the discharge-pipe G.If the work is done dry, the tailings are left at one side of themachine, the. machine being moved closer to the bank to be worked tomake room for more waste.

It will be seen that by the arrangement described the light material inpassing from one step to the other operates inwardly against the actionof the centrifugal force when the pan O is in motion, while the heaviermaterial near the outer and lowerparts of the steps is assisted outwardand away from danger of escape by the centrifugal force.

Having thus fully described my invention. I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent 1. A concentrator comprising a pan having itsbottom composed of a series of annular steps descending toward thecenter and terminating in a discharge-opening at the center, each stephaving a standing flange or dam at its inner edge, and a rotary diskprovided with depending agitators or teeth operating over the steps ofthe said pan, a conical distributer forming the top for the said diskand extended to the outer edges thereof, and a feed-hopper opening uponthe said conical distributer substantially as shown and described.

2. A concentrator, provided with swinging or agitating teeth, eachformed with a shank made of angle-iron and with the sides of the lowerend bent in opposite directions, sub stantially as shown and described.

3. A concentrator provided with a flexible discharge-pipe, aspring-clamp closing the same, and an oscillating disk with agitators,and mechanism connecting the same with the clamp for intermittentautomatic discharge substantially as shown and described.

4:. A concentrator provided with a flexible discharge-pipe, and aclamping device consisting of a horizontal fixed bar G, a horizontalhinged bar G a connecting-rod G attached thereto, a vertical lever G andspring G, for pressing the said flexible pipe to close the latter and torelease the pipe to open the same substantially as shown and described.

5. A concentrator comprising a tank, a concentrating-pan mounted tooscillate loosely in the said tank about a vertical axis, means forlimiting the oscillating motion of the said pan, and an agitating-diskcorresponding in shape to the concentrating-pan and provided withagitators or teeth arranged to act upon the material in the pan andthrough said material to turn the pan to a jarring contact with itsstops substantially as shown and described.

6. A concentrator comprising a tank, a coneentrating-pan mounted tooscillate loosely in the said tank and provided with a series of annularsteps descending and decreasing in size toward the center andterminating in a central discharge, means for limiting the oscillatingmotion of the said pan, and for communicating shocks to the materialstherein contained, and an agitating-disk adapted to be oscillated, andprovided with agitators or teeth arranged in step form over the steps ofthe pen, the said agitators being formed to agitate the material on thesteps and to turn the pan, and a conical distributer 0n the top of saiddisk extending to the outer edge 0f the latter for guiding the materialto the uppermost step of the concentrating-pan sub- 10 stantially asshown and described.

PATRICK H. MCGOXVAN.

WVitnesses GEORGE W. YOUNT, HARRY D. MCGOWAN.

